Mr F - August 2013 and August 2014

One year has passed since I started riding 'Mr F' (who had apparently been just in a field for the past 4 years prior to his arrival at 'Buttercup Farm') and his body shape is improving.

I am also happy with his feed which I changed 7 months, thunderbook base mix with thunderbrook chaff. His hooves are improving slowly but surely. We still need hoof boots when going out on hard ground but every now and then we go without and 'Mr F' if far less foot sore than he was last year.

His posture has improved, too, as can be seen on the below photographs although he is standing at different angles. I have to get better comparison pictures someday:

Above: 'Mr F' in August 2014 - his 'bum' is much more rounded and overall his muscles are more evenly spread. His entire posture is quite a bit better. Riding 'Mr F' is very comfortable and he does move so smoothly now even when going downhill. He has a nice rhythmic swing and it makes it easy to follow his moves when sitting in the saddle. I only have ridden 3 other horses now and then but only with 'Mr F' I feel 'at home', it seems to be a good fit.

In comparison:

'Mr F' in August 2013 - a very pointy bum. He was very stiff in his hind legs and at times I felt as though he should not be ridden at all. But here I am most thankful that 'Lillian' has introduced me to Annette who worked on his back and loosened it all up so 'Mr F' could begin to move 'normal' again. It took a few months for his muscles to develop and adjust and at the beginning we did only very light excersises.